From: "Kismet" <kismet-AT-bigpond.net.au>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 07:31:45 +1000
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Youtube-a lesson to be learned?


Of course the Success of Potter has led to a number of spoofs including the 
very funny Potter Puppet Pals which have enough material to make a feature 
length film!!!!!
Not "great" puppetry but fun and will introduce a whole new audience to the 
delights of "doll wiggling"!
This is my favorite http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD-Huwlg2kY

D.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rolande Duprey" <puppetpro-AT-aol.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2008 3:52 AM
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Youtube-a lesson to be learned?


> MASS MEDIA is very attractive to MASSES of people because it is
> designed to be.
> In addition to people mounting their own versions or spoofs of big
> budget films, those films also get plenty of publicity from newspaper
> and tv columnists "reviewing" them.
> The interest and recognition continues to spiral -- while interest in
> local arts and artists is placed more and more on the fringes.
> If people don't know about it, they don't see it, and it becomes more
> and more a form that is by definition "elitist" -- \\
> and thus, with fewer and fewer audiences, may die a slow death.
>
> Nevertheless, I think something else is happening today.
> Puppetry itself is morphing.
> With the advent of YouTube and similar technologies, more and more
> people are seeing puppetry of all sorts.
> Yes, a lot of it is -- well, not so good.
> But there IS a lot -- and the quality is not dictated by anyone or any
> group or media think tank.
> The popular stuff will always appeal to a certain populace!
>
> But the poor can visit a library and view things on youtube. They may
> not see a live performance, but they may have the inspiration from one
> of these videos to make their own, for their friends... and the
> discovery begins.
>
> It may be that the days of a puppeteer being invited to do a show at a
> school are coming to an end. But there will be something else --
> another way for this very crucial art to flourish. It's been around
> for a long time. And as long as humans need to extend themselves into
> the inanimate, it will be.
>
>    Rolande
> www.purplerock.org
>
>
>
>
>
> On Feb 15, 2008, at 11:18 AM, Alan Cook wrote:
>
>> The primary lesson to be learned (if it hasn't been already) is that
>> Harry Potter had a much bigger budget.
>>
>> Just how many puppet shows have ad budgets equal to just ONE of the
>> hundreds of full page movie ads in the Los Angeles Times or the New
>> York Times?
>>
>> Living in Los Angeles, in a neighborhood favored often for movie/
>> television locations, you can see first hand how much money is spent
>> on production alone. That's why it is called MASS MEDIA.
>>
>> So where do puppets compete? Well, once in awhile puppets get to be
>> part of mass media: In my humble opinion, Jim Henson's MUPPETS were
>> at the top---a NUMBER ONE effort in viewing on television, an impact
>> on culture & education, and they got to the big screens too. Team
>> America found a niche on the big screen (parental guidance required,
>> concerns regarding impolite language).
>>
>> Puppets DID find large audiences on television with Shari Lewis.
>>
>> Kukla, Fran & Ollie pioneered American television in Chicago where
>> many TV techniques were invented.
>>
>> And puppets were effective in the "EDUCATIONAL TV slot on PBS (Non-
>> commercial programs) (Capt. Kangaroo for one)  and those commercial
>> TV offerings we USED TO GET "in the public interest often used
>> puppets here in Los Angeles. Those programs were required until
>> POLITICS changed the rules regarding PUBLIC airwaves. Now we get
>> INFOMMERCIALS (an oxymoron for sure---since it is just a very long
>> commercial slightly disguised....and on my TV set the same
>> infommercial can be on two stations at the same time and I don't get
>> cable or satellite.)
>>
>> Puppets helped pioneer American TV--Howdy Doody was cheap to
>> produce. And it was the only thing on for a time--bumped off by
>> Wonderful World of Disney (another meaning of "Disneycide?").
>>
>> Mass Media also has given us Jerry Springer, Britney whatshername,
>> Whoosit Lohan. Rush Limbaugh, & Howard Stern to help make the people
>> dumb & dumber. Such a success story!
>>
>> Most puppeteers operate in a small frog pond rather than a gigantic
>> sound stage, and are seen in a small setting with an intimate
>> audience, making puppetry closer to its audience. Tis one of the
>> things I like about it. It is a personal art form.
>>
>> Yet, I love the BIG Bread & Puppet figures, The BIG girl and
>> Elephant, because they still feel personal.
>>
>> A couple of weeks ago I checked me  out on youtube to see if I was
>> even still there---yep, a cozy number had peeked at BLOCK PARTY by
>> David Brown., made a couple of years ago at California State
>> University Northridge. Did I expect 4,000 hits? NO!
>>
>> Have you been to any major bookseller to see how many (if any)
>> puppet books are onshelf compared to potboiler novels?
>>
>> We seem to be heading back to the Middle Ages when only the elite
>> could read & write---and if puppeteers are part of such an elite
>> class today (they weren't before), good for us!
>>
>> Money makes a difference. Big money makes a big difference.
>>
>> ALAN COOK
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Stephen Kaplin
>> Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 6:04 AM
>> To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
>> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] the death of elegance?
>>
>> The lesson might be good puppeteers don't always post their work on
>> YouTube.
>> But t hen again, just because a pop song goes platinum doesn't mean it
>> will stand the the test of time. Can't be any different for puppets.
>>
>> Stephen
>>
>>
>> On Feb 15, 2008, at 2:33 AM, Grego wrote:
>>
>>> I heard this rumor that high quality puppets and fine manipulation
>>> were important.
>>> So I peeked in on youtube and found that Cashore and Baird clips each
>>> had about 4,000 views, while Potter Puppet Pals ticked up a stunning
>>> 33 MILLION views:
>>> http://youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1XIm6q4r4
>>>
>>> Is there a lesson to be learned here?
>>> -G
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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>>
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